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Potential Impact on the Tentative Cultural & Natural Heritage Sites in Papua New Guinea, after M7.5 (17.44 UTC) Earthquake

27 March 2018 SUMMARY and OVERVIEW MAP

UNITAR – UNOSAT, following the request of Papua New Guinea Conservation and Environment Protection Authority & The National Museum and Art Gallery, has performed a satellite based analysis of the tentative cultural and natural heritages sites of :

The Kikori River Basin / Great Papuan Plateau • Kikori River Karst • Mount Bosavi • Lebanon Wildlife Management Area • Sulamesi Wildlife Management Area • Kutubu Area The Sublime Karsts of Papua New Guinea • Muller Plateau • Hindenburg Wall

The aim is to search for potential impact caused after the M7.5 earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea on the 25th February 2018 (17.44 UTC).

For this analysis UNOSAT has used post-event cloud free images of the area, collected on 1, 2, 3, 7 and 11 March 2018, and the most recent pre-event satellite image before the earthquake occurred.

Comparison between these images allows to identify and detect changes that happened in this period of time and they can be related to the impact caused by the earthquake in Papua New Guinea.

The findings are illustrated in the following pages. This is a preliminary analysis and has not yet been validated in the field. Please send ground feedback to UNITAR – UNOSAT.

2 Kikori River Karst – (Kikori River Basin & Great Papuan Plateau) – Southern Highlands Province Shake Intensity Zone V (124 km south east of the epicentre)

3 January 2018 2 March 2018

Inset 2 – New landslide

Inset 1- Potential landslide

Possible increase of solid materials along the river caused by mudflows in the upper stream

Inset 2 - New landslide Inset 1 – Potential landslide

Image collected on 2 March 2018 shows the presence of areas where vegetation losses are observed. Inset 2 refers to new visible landslide, while Inset 1 and 3 show the presence of potential landslides. In the case of Inset 1, the shape of the landslide is anomalous, while for Inset 3 the area was in the shade in the pre- image. Kikori River Karst, does not seem Inset 3 - Potential landslides affected, as no visible changes were observed over the specific location submitted, however this might be underestimated due to the characteristics (resolution, angle, cloud cover percentage…) of the satellite image and the nature of the cultural site. Vegetation losses and the appearance of new Inset 3 – Potential landslides landslides in the surrounding areas are an indirect indicator of potential impact on this site. Field assessments are necessary to validate this analysis and determine whether affected areas not detected by satellites are present. Mount Bosavi – (Kikori River Basin & Great Papuan Plateau) - Southern Highlands Province Shake Intensity Zone V (60km south of the epicentre)

24 January 2018 1 March 2018

© 2018 Planet Labs Inc. All rights reserved © 2018 Planet Labs Inc. All rights reserved 5 Imagery Copyright: © 2018 Planet Mount Bosavi as of 1 March 2018 New landslide Potential new landslides New landslide New landslide

Pre existing landslides

Inset 1- New landslide Image collected on 1 March 2018 shows areas subject to new landslides, triggered Inset 3 – New landslides especially on the northern part of Mount Bosavi crater (extinct volcano), as a Inset 1 – New landslide secondary effect of the earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea on the 25th Inset 3 – Reactivated landslide February 2018. Inset 1 and Inset 2 refer to new visible Inset 2 – New landslides landslides, while Inset 3 shows new landslides and reactivated or enlarged ones as of 1 March 2018. Inset 2 - New landslides In the analysis are indicated also pre- existing landslides, stable and unchanged before and after the earthquake, and potential landslides, which were partially obscured by the clouds in the pre-image. Pre existing landslide The appearance of new landslides and the reactivated ones in the northern part of the crater are clear indicators of the impact on this site. Field assessments are recommended to validate this analysis and determine whether affected areas not detected by satellites are Inset 3 - New landslides & present. reactivated landslide Lebanon Wildlife Management Area – (Kikori River Basin & Great Papuan Plateau) - Southern Highlands Province Shake Intensity Zone VII & VIII (30km south east of the epicentre)

21 February 2018 7 March 2018

Inset 3 – New landslides Inset 1- New landslides Image collected on 7 March 2018 shows New landslides areas subject to new landslides, triggered along both banks of Tagari River as a secondary effect of the earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea on the 25th February 2018. Inset 1 and Inset 3 refer to new visible Inset 2 – Expanded Tagari River bed landslides. In the case of Inset 1 the landslides are inside of Lebanon WMA while for Inset 3 they are outside the site. Inset 2 shows an increase of the Tagari Inset 2 – Expansion Tagari River River bed along both banks, resulting in some inundated areas. Even if the coverage between pre and post satellite images differs, the post image Inset 1 – New landslides covers around 93% of the area. No further visible changes or additional impacts were visible in other parts of Lebanon Wildlife Management Area as of 7 March 2018. New landslides The appearance of new landslides on the eastern part of Lebanon WMA along the banks of Tagari River are clear indicators of Inset 3 - New landslides the impact on this site. Field assessments are recommended to validate this analysis and determine whether affected areas not detected by satellites are present. Imagery Copyright: © 2018 Planet Sulamesi Wildlife Management Area as of 2 March 2018

Inset 1- Post Image Inset 2 – Post Image Inset 3 – Post Image

Inset 2 & 2a Inset 1 & 1a No visible change Inset 3 & 3a No visible change No visible change

Comparison analysis between pre-earthquake satellite imagery collected on the 22 February 2018 and post-earthquake satellite imagery collected on the 2 March 2018 does not show visible changes. The area reviewed covers the south eastern part of Sulamesi Wildlife Management Area, Inset 1a – Pre Image Inset 2a – Pre Image Inset 3a – Pre Image located more than 70 km south east of the epicenter of the earthquake. The rest of the Sulamesi WMA was not analyzed in this report due to significant cloud cover or unavailability of satellite images. Insets 1 ,2 & 3 show examples of no visible changes or impacts during this period. Field assessments are recommended to validate this analysis and determine whether affected areas not detected by satellites are present. Kutubu Lake and Surrounding Area – (Kikori River Basin & Great Papuan Plateau) - Southern Highlands Province Shake Intensity Zone VII (55km south east of the epicentre)

4 February 2018 11 March 2018

Inset 2 – New landslide Inset 1- New landslides & river diversion

New landslides

Inset 1 – New landslides Image collected on 11 March 2018 shows & river diversion areas subject to new landslides, river Inundated area diversion, overflowing areas and vegetation River diversion and overflow losses as secondary effects of the earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea on the 25th February 2018. Inset 1 and Inset 2 refer to new visible landslides. In the case of Inset 1 the Inset 2 – New landslide landslides also caused river diversion in the upper stream area, located north of Kutubu Lake. Inset 3 shows an expansion of the north eastern part of Kutubu Lake causing inundations in the margins.

Inset 3 – Overflowed Lake Vegetation losses

All these different secondary effects that affect Kutubu Lake and the surrounding Inset 3 – Overflowed Lake area are clear indicators of the impact on this site. Field assessments are recommended to validate this analysis and determine whether affected areas not detected by satellites are present. Mamo Plateau - (The Sublime Karsts of Papua New Guinea - Muller Plateau) – Hela Province Shake Intensity Zone VI & VII (70km north west of the epicentre)

14 February 2018 2 March 2018

Inset 1- Reactivated landslides Inset 2 - New landslides Inset 3 – New landslides

Image collected on 2 March 2018 shows areas subject to new landslides, triggered ~ 7 kilometers south east of Mamo Plateau site, as a secondary effect of the earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea on the 25th February 2018. New landslides Inset 1 refers to reactivated or Inset 1 – Reactivated landslides enlarged landslides, while Inset 2 and Inset 3 refer to new ones as of 2 March 2018. No visible changes haven been detected around Mamo Plateau, but New landslides part of the site might be obscured by cloud cover. Multiple new landslides, mainly mudflows, and reactivated ones are New landslides visible along both banks of the rivers, considered as clear indicators of Reactivated landslide impact on Muller Plateau, but not on Mamo Plateau. Field assessments are recommended to validate this analysis and determine New landslides whether affected areas not detected by satellites are present. Inset 2 - New landslides

Reactivated landslides Inset 3 – New landslides New landslides Large Treeless Basin & River Cave Outlet - (The Sublime Karsts of Papua New Guinea) – Hela Province Shake Intensity Zone VI (44 km north west of the epicentre)

14 February 2018 2 & 11 March 2018

© 2018 Planet Labs Inc. All rights reserved © 2018 Planet Labs Inc. All rights reserved 14 Large Treeless Basin & River Cave Outlet – (Muller Plateau) as of 2 & 11 March 2018 Imagery Copyright: © 2018 Planet

Inset 1 - New landslides

Reduction of lake size

Inset 1- New landslides

Imagery collected on 2 & 11 March 2018 shows areas subject to new landslides, triggered in the surrounding areas of River Cave Outlet site, as a secondary effect of Inset 2 - New landslides the earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea on the 25th February 2018. Inset 1 & Inset 2 refer both to new visible landslides. While in Inset 1 Inset 2 - New landslides the new landslides are located 1,2 kilometers north west of River Cave Comparison analysis between pre and post earthquake satellite Outlet, in Inset 2 new landslides are image shows a decrease of the size of the like located 500 m located 1,8 kilometres south west of south west of the site. the site. Appearance of new landslides in the surrounding areas are an Not visible changes have been indirect indicator of the potential impact on this site. detected in the specific location of Field assessments are recommended to validate this analysis River Cave Outlet, but part of the site and determine whether affected areas not detected by satellites might be obscured by cloud cover. are present. Hindenburg Wall – (The Sublime Karsts of Papua New Guinea) - Western Province Shake Intensity Zone IV (175km north west of the epicentre)

5 January & 4 February 2018 5 March 2018

Inset 1 – Reactivated landslide

Inset 1- Reactivated landslide Image collected on 3 March 2018 shows areas subject to new landslides, and road obstruction as secondary effects of the earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea on the 25th February 2018. Inset 1 refers to a reactivated landslide inside Hindenberg Wall site while Inset 2 refers to a new landslide that affected the road leading to Tabubil City from the north. Due to high percentage of cloud cover over Inset 2 – New landslide the pre and post satellite imagery, the & affected road Inset 2 - New landslide analysis only considered the north western & affected road part of Hindenburg Wall. The presence of landslides inside Hindenberg Wall and in the surrounding areas are clear indicators of the impact on this site. Field assessments are recommended to validate this analysis and determine whether affected areas not detected by satellites are present. UNITAR Operational Satellite Application Programme (UNOSAT) Contact information: www.unitar.org/unosat [email protected] T +41 22 767 4020

United Nations Institute for Training and Research Institut des Nations Unies pour la formation et la recherche Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Instituto de las Naciones Unidas para Formación Profesional e Investigaciones Geneva 10, Switzerland Учебньıй и научно-исследовательский институт T +41 22 917 8400 Организации Объединенньıх Наций F +41 22 917 8047 www.unitar.org معهد األمم المتحدة للتدريب والبحث 联合国训练研究所